SHADOWS OF SORROW [S.S]

1 - A Proper Hogwarts Welcome

The logs in the fireplace cracked as Sebastian watched the fire dance. The warm light accentuated the dark ornate colors of the common room and made him feel at ease even with the loud tapping of the tiny footsteps that he can ́t seem to ignore now that Ominis mentioned them.

The first weeks were always hell and sometimes the thought crossed his mind, that him and his friends weren ́t as bad on their first days but he couldn't exactly remember. It's been such a long time. Everything was so different back then. When Anne was still here. He wouldn't mind it that much if she was still here. Her leave due to her illness made him shut out everyone except Ominis. He loved the Dark touch his reputation got from that day forward and lived up to the Slytherin Image he made for himself, but he can't help but think it could have been different. If he might even want it to be different.

As another log cracked and disturbed the peaceful dance of the flames for just a second, Sebastian became aware of his surroundings again that he seemed to have blurred out for some time now. A slight groan left his lips as younger students dashed through his view on the fireplace forcing him to eventually drop the stare into nothingness and stand up. He had to leave for Defense Against the Dark Arts anyway and Gods above he was not ready for another year of that wrench teaching them spells that were absolutely useless in actual combat. Of course, you could make your opponent halt their movement or disarm them but what do you do afterwards? Run away? At least it seemed like that ́s what they wanted you to do. Never act, always stay defensive. But Sebastian wasn ́t defensive. He wanted to finish a duel not run away from it at the first chance he ́d get. At least he still had the crossed wands to make up for the lack of activeness.

As he picked up his books and stored them in a magical pocket in his dark robe, he caught a glimpse of someone approaching him. A sigh escaped his lips, ready to shoo away whatever first year student tried to approach him, but as he stood up to his full height, the person was taller and older than he expected. The annoying tone in his question didn't change as he laid eyes on the new 7th year. "What do you want?" For a moment she seemed startled, unsure what to make of the clear annoyance he showed her in contrast to some of the warm welcomes she got with other students in the Common room. "I wanted to introduce myself. I ́m sorry if I interrupted you." Sebastian's brows furrowed as she added "Staring into the fire must have been really important."

Sebastian had to suppress the roll of his eyes and tried to dig out at least some of his manners before opening his mouth. He wasn ́t evil after all he just for some reason didn't think highly of her after the ceremony. "You're the new 7th year. My name is Sebastian Sallow. Welcome to Slytherin." This small Introduction was the only thing he got out of himself without adding any annoyed tone or mean words. "Nice to meet you, Sebastian. My name is Amaya Rosewood." A smile decorated her lips as she folded her hands in front of her in a noble gesture. What was that? Did she think, she was better than him? Superior? A true Ravenclaw, why the hell was she here?

"Yeah. I hope you will live up to the standards of the 7th year soon. Must be a hard way from zero to skipping 6 years. What exactly makes you so special to even be eligible to do that?" He couldn't help the curiosity of what the sorting hat saw in her and what Professor Black or Professor Weasley saw in her. Was she the daughter of some very rich, influential Auror? Minister? A direct descendant of Salazar like Ominis? What was it about her? He couldn ́t stand the Jealousy even if he would never let it show. "Oh, it's complicated but don't worry, I ́ll live up to whatever standards you or the professors will set for me." A confident smile appeared on her face as if to give him a gut punch and a ́don't mess with me ́ note. At least she wasn't the type to be scared or intimidated by him. "It was nice meeting you Sebastian. Let's talk once you decided if I ́m good enough for you, shall we?" A slight wave and smile were the only things he saw before she vanished as fast as she appeared in his field of view.